I do not like things that are supposed to be flavored like other things. For example, bacon is not a flavor and things that are not bacon should not taste like bacon. I’ve tried to like “bacon flavor” things, but often find that they just taste gross or like someone set a fire directly below my mouth and the only thing I can consume is the smoke from that fire. Then there are other times where the flavor is so subtle that it makes the product this just weird (see Voodoo Doughnut Maple Bacon Ale). Honestly though who cares about bacon, what about beer flavor?

Back in late January the good people over at Jelly Belly released a flavor of Jelly Bean they dubbed “draft beer”. What do you think of when you think of draft beer? I would say that the majority of people think of a pilsner or least some other light brew. Even with the increasing popularity of craft beer, draft still means, Bud, Miller, Coors, to most people. That’s just the way it goes. Anyway, Jelly Belly’s draft beer flavored Jelly Bean tastes like a hefeweizen which might be the last beer you think about when you think about draft beer.

I can see why they did this and my assumption was way off. According to Jelly Belly it’s because the company wanted to pay homage to its German Ancestry and I say bullshit. They did a hefeweizen because it’s fruity and sweet. I can’t think of an easier copout than to make a very slightly hoppy beer with incredibly strong fruity and sweet flavors! Way to do nothing Jelly Belly.

If you have tried these “Beer” jelly beans let me know that my assumptions are correct or incorrect and they really just made a sweet citrus jelly bean that they probably already have several varieties of.